Assistant coach Yaakov Gino said that the team had been frustrated on Sunday over the defeat, but that the enormity of the achievement had finally sunk in.\

"We lost in the final because of problems with defensive rebounds that enabled Slovenia to swing the momentum in the final minute," said Gino.

Captain Yotam Halperin of Maccabi Tel Aviv said he was extremely proud of his team-mates.

"We have been through a lot over the past two years," said Halperin.

"We have been through happy and sad moments, but the important thing is that we are continuing together for another year."

Hapoel Jerusalem point guard, Raviv Limonad, one of Israel's top players at the tournament, summed up the team's feeling when he said: "To reach the final of the European Championship is an enormous achievement, but if you reach the final you want to take the title, so we are disappointed.